Slowdown in car sales for month of October

Slowdown in car sales for month of October

Slowdown in car sales for month of October

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) today issued the official 162 car sales figures for the month of October. Total new car registrations Year to Date (145,433) are up 21,913 units or +18%, on the same period last year (123,520).However new car registrations for the month of October (2,243) decreased by 316 units or -12% compared to October 2015 (2,559).

Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) registrations (27,347) are up 4,373 units or +19% Year to Date, while registrations in the month of October (1,181) have seen a decrease of 23 units or -2% in comparison to the same month last year (1,204). Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) registrations during October (128), also recorded a decrease of -16% (25 units) for the month when compared to October last year (153), while Year to Date registrations (2,774) are currently up 711 units or +34% compared to the same period in 2015 (2,063).

Commenting on the figures SIMI Director General Alan Nolan said “In the final quarter of the year we do expect to see a slow-down in new vehicle registrations, with much smaller numbers each month compared to the peak selling months; indeed the Industry is already moving its focus to the 2017 sales period, as can be seen and heard in current advertising campaigns. However it is fairly apparent that the 162 period at 7% up on last year has seen a slowing-down in registrations relative to the 161 period which finished 23% up on the first six months of 2015. Whether this has been influenced by the Brexit situation or just a slowing of retail activity in the Irish economy, after a sustained period of growth, is not yet clear but this is something that the Industry will be continuing to watch closely.”